Lead Internal Auditor

**Job Introduction**:
Support the delivery of the Internal Audit plan through completion of agreed reviews and high quality reports with conclusions agreed with management and which reflect agreed working practices and current group guidance. Provide challenge in risk management meetings and ensure risk assessments and mitigating actions are well documented. Develop skills and capabilities of Internal Auditors through feedback, coaching and professional development, and contribute to the development of the function by sharing audit learnings and raising standards of best practice.

**Main Responsibility**:

- Schedule, plan and deliver internal audit reviews, control assessments and risk projects in support of the Internal Audit plan. Where necessary, supervise and support the work of guest auditors or third party consultants engaged to support the delivery of an internal audit review or project.
- Articulate recommendations and actions that meet the needs of local management and the wider business, consistent with agreed working practices and Group guidance.
- Track the status of audit actions, engaging actively with action owners to close audit points. Clearly document the status of actions in support of reporting to local management and Group, escalating points at risk of becoming overdue.
- Contribute to the improvement of risk management practices and support the accurate assessment of risk and documentation of mitigation actions across the business. This includes the identification of emerging risks and strategies to improve existing mitigations.
- Develop effective working relationships with key business stakeholders within the business area, building trust and becoming a valued source of support, challenge and guidance.
- Motivate and develop the Internal Auditors in the team, and build skills, knowledge and professional development through coaching and feedback.
- Input to the development of the Internal Audit function and lead the development of its methodologies, working practices and reporting, as outlined in quarterly review meetings.

**Essential**
- A qualified accountant with extensive experience of leading concurrent audit project teams in a dynamic, complex and multi-location and international business environment
- First-hand experience of Financial Accounting and Reporting; Financial Analysis; Commercial Finance and Business Development
- Excellent knowledge of, and experience developing and implementing, methodologies and strategies to provide assurance over internal controls and to embed risk management activities
- Proven track record of leading, planning and delivering a range of audits or investigations into complex business processes or systems, and the generation of commercially relevant recommendations
- Excellent written and presentation skills
- Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, coupled with the ability to engage with leaders and process owners throughout the business globally.
- Confident negotiating internally, often at higher levels, on matters which could have a significant business impact
- Ability to make a balanced assessment of available information to reach objective and commercially relevant conclusions
- Proven leader who can set objectives, performance manage and develop individuals to achieve their full potential
- Eager to learn quickly and to obtain extensive experience of an exciting, fast-moving, international business
- Willingness to travel widely, occasionally at relatively short notice
- Demonstrates strong judgement, political astuteness, and sensitivity to cultural diversity
- Ability to work co-operatively alongside others while retaining the capacity to form and articulate independent views and opinions

**Desirable**
- Experience across Tax, Treasury, Cost Accounting
- Qualified Internal Auditor
- Previous experience in international business; the food and drink sector or fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG)
- Foreign language skills (particularly Spanish or Mandarin)

**What we can offer you**:

- We offer a competitive salary and benefits which are designed to promote our employees financial wellbeing. Employees are also eligible to participate in a bonus plan.
- Our employees enjoy a generous holiday entitlement and an opportunity to ‘buy’ or ‘sell’ some holiday entitlement.
- Our employees can join a defined contribution pension plan. Employees contribute either 4% or 5% of salary, the company contributes 8% or 10% depending on the employee contribution. Employee contributions can be made through salary sacrifice.
- Our Employee Assistance Programme offers practical, impartial support on everyday matters ranging from medical, financial and legal to home and family issues.
- Our Life Assurance cover is a multiple of eight times your annual basic salary.
- Product allocation so that you can enjoy our fantastic portfolio of brands.
- Our Cycle to Work scheme allows you to hire a bike for an agreed length of time, and then snap it up